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Columbus: Vote FOR Issue 1 (MetroParks Levy)

In 2010, the existing Metro Parks levy expires. This is the primary source of funds for the Metro Parks. Issue 1, the new levy, will allow Metro Parks to continue to operate clean, well-maintained, safe parks that are open daily throughout the year and are free to the public. It will allow them to continue to acquire and manage natural areas to protect wildlife and water resources.

Consider Biking supports the Metro Parks levy for many reasons. First and foremost, the Parks offer varied opportunities for healthful recreation, notably the opportunity for kids and adults to ride bicycles in a safe environment. We also support the levy because the Metro Parks have indicated that they would assume maintenance of the greenway trails in Columbus. The City has been forced to cut the maintenance expenses for these heavily used multi-use paths (e.g., the Olentangy Bike Path) due to the city’s budget crisis. Management by the Metro Park system would provide reliable, sustainable, long-term needs for these critical bicycle arteries!

The proposed levy is a 0.75-mill property tax, which will cost a Franklin County homeowner about $23 per year per $100,000 appraised residential value.

You can learn more about this issue here or by calling (614) 891-0700. Vote yes on Issue 1, the Metro Parks levy on the May 5th ballot. In many areas, it will be the only issue on the ballot. Every vote really will count.

I don't think I could say it any better than GET OUT THERE AND VOTE YES ON ISSUE 1!

The Dispatch report that Columbus Rides Bikes shared on Facebook today is entitled "More crashes come with more bicycle traffic on dedicated lanes," and discusses the new lanes and the number of accidents that have happened there. None of these accidents/crashes has been fatal.

So... you can read the article and get the statistics. Here's a summary of them, though, with a quote from the article:
...the number of crashes has jumped. Between 2012 and 2015, there were five crashes involving bicycles on Summit between Hudson and East 5th Avenue.…

In a move that has left quite a few people stranded in Columbus, the ride-sharing company Car2Go has announced today that they're pulling out of the local market as of May 31.

car2go is saddened to announce that we have made the difficult decision to suspend our operations in Columbus as of May 31. Read why here: https://t.co/gRSibUhotB
— car2go Columbus (@car2goColumbus) May 24, 2018
This has got me more than a little pissed off and very inconvenienced.

There's no doubt - Car2Go improved the quality of my family's life for the past few years while they were active in town. As a one-car family where I rode my bike and took the bus most days, Car2Go filled in the gap nicely when we needed that extra set of wheels to get ourselves places.

Here's the news they sent out via their website today:

HELLO,
We’re writing to let you know that after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue car2go service in Columbus, effective May 31, 2018.
In 201…

I've been out with the flu for a few days (no, I'm not oinking), and I missed this surprising post from Jeff Stephens of Consider Biking back on October 9th. Suffice to say that Jeff took some time to sit back and watch the behavior of our city's cyclists, and was dismayed at what he saw. I'm in complete agreement with Jeff on this issue. Simply too many Columbus cyclists do not obey the law. But let's look at the reasons that Jeff proposed in his commentary: Why are you riding this way? Are you so self-absorbed, that the world revolves around you? Are you just opportunistic since the bicycle gives you the opportunity to cheat traffic? Are you “expressing yourself” with your nonchalant coolness, hipness, whatever? Or, do you just not know any better? Do you just follow the example of the guy/gal in front of you because you’re new to urban bicycling? (I think it’s the latter.)Jeff's statement breaks the possible reasons for this behavior down into two extrem…